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Bitter Chocolatier

1 1⁄2 oz Rye, Rittenhouse 100 (cacao infused)
1⁄2 oz Campari
1⁄2 oz Amaro, CH Distillery (or Cynar 70)
1⁄4 oz Crème de Cacao, Tempus Fugit
1 twst Orange peel
Instructions

Stir, strain into old fashioned glass with a large cube or sphere. Garnish with orange peel.

Notes

For the cacao infused rye whiskey, infuse a bottle of Rittenhouse 100 with 1/2 cup of cacao nibs for 72 hours.

Yields Drink
Year
2016
Authenticity
Your original creation
Source reference

Cocktail homage to the like named Imperial Stout by Scorched Earth Brewery

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4.5 stars
(15 ratings)
From other users
  • 3.95- cholatey Boulevardier
  • Subbed mezcal for the rye - also very good! — ★★★★★
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lunchFlower commented on 4/08/2020:

Do you have a recommendation for a more globally available amaro that CH Distillery is comparable to? 


applejack commented on 4/11/2020:

Lunchflower, I'd suggest Cynar 70 as the closest sub for the CH Amaro.


Bananas Foster Flip

1 oz Cognac, Pierre Ferrand Ambre (10 year)
1 oz Rum, Papa's Pilar Blonde 3 Year
1⁄2 oz Heavy cream (or half and half)
Instructions

Shake using the 2 Minute Ramos technique. Add all ingredients to shaking tin except the cream. Shake with 2 1" cubes for approximately 45 seconds. Strain contents into new tin, discarding the ice. Add cream and 1-2 cracked cubes (or 1/8 cup pellet ice) and shake until you can't hear the ice (approximately a minute). Strain into coupe.

Yields Drink
Year
2018
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
5 stars
(8 ratings)
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  • Banana Alexander — Brandy, Crème de Banane, Heavy cream, Orange peel, Nutmeg
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Spirit Animal

1 1⁄2 oz Mezcal, Sombra
1⁄2 oz Herbal liqueur, Jeppson's Malort
1⁄2 oz Pamplemousse Rose, Giffard
1 twst Grapefruit peel (swath)
Instructions

Stir, strain into old fashioned glass with a large cube or sphere. Garnish with grapefruit peel.

Notes

This drink is already pretty bitter. If you want to crank the bitterness to 11, swap out the Dolin Blanc with Cocchi Americano, and the Giffard Pamplemousse with CH Dogma Rubin Bitter Grapefruit Liqueur.

Yields Drink
Year
2018
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(1 rating)
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  • Pigeon Park — Mezcal, Sweet vermouth, Pimm's No. 1 Cup, Bénédictine, Bitters
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  • Oaxacan Bijou — Mezcal, Herbal liqueur, Sweet vermouth, Orange bitters, Lemon peel
  • Reign In Blood — Mezcal, Herbal liqueur, Chocolate bitters, Blood Orange Juice, Lime juice
  • Chachita — Mezcal, Sweet vermouth, Cynar, Bénédictine, Bitters, Orange peel

The Only Word

Instructions

Combine ingredients in a shaker tin with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a cocktail glass. No garnish.

Notes

Works with Fee Bros. celery bitters as well.

Yields Drink
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Jaret Peña, Last Word, San Antonio, TX
Source reference

Mezcal: The History, Craft & Cocktails of the World's Ultimate Artisanal Spirit by Emma Janzen

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(20 ratings)
From other users
  • Prefer 1/2 or 3/4 Mezcal, 1/2 GC, and barspoon Lux. A nice Last Word riff.
  • Delicious sour, top notch - great replacement for a Margarita.
  • Delicious. The savory notes from the celery bitters add a dimension I didn't know I needed in my Last Word.
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Zachary Pearson commented on 5/25/2018:

Curated this slightly - removed History, which seems like it was copied verbatim from the book. Thanks,  Zachary



Sketches of Spain

1 oz Speyside Scotch, Aberlour 12
1 oz Blended rum, Banks 7
1⁄2 oz Zucca
1⁄4 oz Amaro Meletti
1⁄2 oz Oloroso sherry, Lustau Oloroso (Don Nuno)
1 ds Bitters, Dr Adam Elmegirab’s Spanish Bitters
1 twst Orange peel
Instructions

Stir, strain into old fashioned glass with a large cube or sphere. Garnish with orange peel.

Yields Drink
Year
2017
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(1 rating)
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  • Autumn Sweater (Brad Thomas Parsons) — Rye, Averna, Amaro Nonino, Bitters, Orange bitters, Maple syrup, Orange peel, Clove
  • Walnut Room — Bourbon, Walnut Liqueur, Amaro, Coffee liqueur, Bitters, Orange peel
  • Oona O'Neill — Whiskey, Amaro, Oloroso sherry, Orange bitters, Lemon
  • Shaft Jackson — Bourbon, Amaro Nonino, Averna, Amaretto, Peach bitters, Orange peel
  • Bitter Chocolatier — Rye, Campari, Amaro, Sweet vermouth, Crème de Cacao, Bitters, Orange peel
Shawn C commented on 3/25/2024:

Interestingly, a different cocktail of the same name appeared several years after this one was published here. That one is a low alcohol combination that also contains oloroso sherry, but with Spanish vermouth, sherry brandy, and honey syrup. It is credited to Kellie Thorn of Atlanta. but without a date given by Punch And Difford's. A check of the Wayback Machine doesn't show those recipe links archived before 2022.


Old Hickory

3⁄4 oz Bourbon, Old Grand Dad 100 (hickory smoked)
1 1⁄4 oz Rye, Rittenhouse 100
1⁄4 oz Virgin Islands Rum, Cruzan Blackstrap
1 twst Orange peel
Instructions

Stir, strain into old fashioned glass with a large cube. Garnish with orange peel.

Notes

For the hickory smoked bourbon, smoke a 750ml bottle of Old Grand-Dad 100 bourbon with hickory wood chips using a PolyScience hand smoker (roughly 2/3 a bowl seems to be about right, a full bowl is too much)

Yields Drink
Year
2018
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
Not yet rated
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  • Fogerty — Rye, Campari, Crème de Cacao, Orange bitters, Orange peel
  • Left Hand of Darkness — Rye, Walnut Liqueur, Averna, Bitters, Absinthe, Brandied cherry
  • Improved Whiskey Cocktail — Bourbon, Bitters, Maraschino Liqueur, Absinthe, Simple syrup, Lemon peel

Fernet Medley & Coke

1⁄2 oz Fernet Branca
1⁄2 oz Fernet Vallet
1⁄2 oz Fernet, CH Distillery
1⁄2 oz Ramazzotti
1⁄2 oz Bourbon, Old Grand Dad 100
1⁄2 oz Cola syrup
1 ds Blackstrap Bitters
1 twst Lime peel
Instructions

Stir, strain into old fashioned glass with a large cube or sphere. Garnish with lime peel.

Notes

Use any Fernet adding up to 1.5 oz. For the cola syrup, reduce cola (I use Fentimans) down to 1/4 of original volume, and add equal parts demerara sugar.

Yields Drink
Year
2017
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
Not yet rated
Similar cocktails
Shawn C commented on 4/18/2025:

Looking at a name change for this since "Fernet and Coke" is how the Argentinian "Fernet con Coca" is typically referred to in English. I am thinking something like "Fernet Medley & Coke" or similar since the presence of three different fernets stands out in this different style of cocktail.



Springtime For Donald

Instructions

Shake with ice, strain, sip. Repeat.

Yields Drink
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
2 stars
(2 ratings)
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Blood Eagle

1 1⁄2 oz Aquavit, Krogstad
1⁄2 oz Amaro Nardini
1⁄2 oz Campari
1 bsp Fernet Vallet
1 twst Orange peel (swath)
1 twst Grapefruit peel (swath)
Instructions

Stir, strain into old fashioned glass with a large cube or sphere. Garnish with peel swaths, arranged in a V shape like wings.

Notes

Recipe is tuned for Krogstad Aquavit, which isn't nearly as caraway heavy as some other aquavit I've had. If using another brand, you may want to split the aquavit with vodka.

History

Riff on the "Host Body" posted here at KC. Loved the combo of East India Sherry, Nardini & Campari and wanted to use it in a more savory drink.

Yields Drink
Year
2017
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
5 stars
(6 ratings)
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thiudans commented on 6/20/2019:

Simplified as just (Aalborg) Aquavit, Sherry, and (1oz) Campari with dash Ramazzotti and blood orange slice, and found very enjoyable.


Westhovsies commented on 2/20/2021:

Didn't have Krogstad, but this worked well with Skiklubben from Tamworth NH Distillery


Ash Heap of History

1 1⁄4 oz Blended Scotch, Monkey Shoulder
3⁄4 oz Cynar 70
1⁄2 oz Amaro, Cappelletti Sfumato Rabarbaro
Instructions

Stir, strain into old fashioned glass with a large cube or sphere. Garnish with grapefruit peel.

Yields Drink
Year
2018
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(13 ratings)
From other users
  • 2 oz Lamphroaig 0.5 Amaro, Cynar 0.25 Allspice Dram
  • Spicy, mildly bitter. Scotch is muted as the amari and allspice take center stage. Enjoyed it.
  • Nice. This is about the only time I can remember 0.25 oz of allspice dram tasting muted. In a good way.
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